Central Valley Regional Initiative
The Central Valley Regional Initiative includes Sacramento and the San Joaquin Valley (SJV), and will be led by UC Davis. The Central Valley contains four of the ten most polluted cities in the country, as measured by ozone and particulate matter (American Lung Association, 2017). This initiative will identify innovative ways to reduce transportation emissions while achieving co- benefits for rural and urban low-income communities. Research and outreach will focus on health concerns in disadvantaged communities, relating specifically to the objectives identified in AB 617. Two research projects will be undertaken:
Improving Rural Mobility
This project will assist the SJV Air Pollution Control District in implementing and evaluating a suite of shared mobility services in five disadvantaged, rural communities, where provision of public transit is costly and services extremely limited. The project will focus on two pilot concepts: 1) carsharing and ridesourcing at affordable housing sites, and 2) microtransit services. Partners include the 8 SJV Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), SJV transit agencies, and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans).
First / Last Mile Connectivity
The low density land use patterns of the Central Valley make it difficult to offer low-cost, high quality public transit service. To serve these markets, a growing number of shared-mobility pilot projects are being planned and funded using public-private partnerships. The UC Davis-led team will partner with the Sacramento Area
Council of Governments and local agencies to evaluate the impacts and benefits of local pilot projects and to share results with other communities and regions.